Is it a done deal that the University of Pittsburgh will receive permission
for its dormitory expansion plan on Oakland Avenue in South Oakland?

Pitt purchased the property for this expansion from UPMC for nearly
$1.4 million and has already torn down the Children’s Hospital
house on the site - before final approvals have
been granted.

The first hearings concerning this expansion, which is a part of Pitt’s
Master Plan, began with hearings on February 2 and February 16 with the
Pittsburgh Planning Commission.

I gave testimony at the February 2 hearing emphasizing the absolute
necessity for an honest, comprehensive Impact Statement. No individual
knows for certain the negative consequences of this expansion without
an in-depth assessment.

Past history, though, has shown Pitt’s expansion has resulted
in greater drinking, parking, and litter problems. With the present attitude
of Pitt administrators, who say that expansion in South Oakland will
never end, there will be an unfortunate continuation of more long-time
residents leaving this community.

Following the public testimony at that hearing, there was a discussion
by members of the Commission. One member mentioned that he was a resident
of North Oakland, and went on to say that residents there had asked Pitt
administrators to house more students in South Oakland because
of numerous problems caused by students in the North Oakland neighborhood. The Commission
unanimously granted Pitt what it wanted. Incredibly, no
transcript was
made of the February 2 hearing.

The Planning Commission also unanimously voted to grant Pitt its agenda
at the February 16 meeting. What is also disconcerting and deplorable
is that four months after these hearings, the minutes
of both hearings have yet to be approved, and therefore they are not available for anyone
to review.

However, that inaction by the Planning Commission did not stop the Pittsburgh
City Council from commencing public hearings of this matter (Bills 210 & 211)
on May 6. I had asked the offices of two council members to inform me
when the hearing would take place but no notification was given to me
and, therefore, I was not present. Only four council members attended
this hearing and not a single question was asked the Pitt representative
concerning what impact this expansion would have on our community. Also,
on the morning of May 6, the Chancellor of Pitt met with the Council
President. Details of that meeting are not known. In contrast, to the
best of my knowledge, the Chancellor has never
met with any member of
our community to discuss our problems in his nearly 14-year tenure.

The meeting of the Standing Committee on May 12 lasted
57 seconds with
no discussion of the impending bills, and the bills received an affirmative
recommendation. On May 20, the City Council unanimously gave approval
for Pitt to continue with its expansion plans. Did the Council act in
the best interest of the community which is its primary responsibility?

The next hearings for public testimony on Pitt’s expansion plans
are June 17 at the Zoning Board of Adjustment followed by one more hearing
at the Planning Commission. Some people in South Oakland don’t
testify because they are elderly, some are caretakers for the elderly;
and some fear retaliation from Pitt and UPMC. The vast majority though
feel this issue is a done deal and Pitt will be given approval for its
expansion.

I don’t plan to testify in person at the upcoming hearings because
I choose not to be part of a process that I now
feel lacks total integrity.

Our grassroots movement fully expects you to sign the bills passed by
the City Council on May 20. In our attempts to create a healthier environment
in South Oakland for the past three years, you
did not respond to five
letters I wrote asking for your support. Unfortunately, you and far too
many other politicians forget that you are public servants.

It is also deplorable that we never received a response from the Chairperson
of the Board of Trustees of Pitt when we asked him this very
pertinent and important question: What are the benefits to the elderly, long-time
residents of South Oakland by having a 200-bed expansion of student housing
on Oakland Avenue?

The community of South Oakland was in existence long before there was
a University of Pittsburgh or a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Unfortunately, Pitt and UPMC administrators, as well as some in the political
arena forget that truth, and they shamefully believe our community is
an “area of opportunity” for callous
exploitation. Tragically,
it is the long-time residents of South Oakland who will bear the burden
of that shame.

You cannot force people to care, and that is why women, Blacks, Jews,
and Gays have sought the legislative and judicial systems of our government
to end the injustices against themselves. We find it to be lamentable
that some people who have experienced the pain of betrayal become
a betrayer themselves to others seeking to end injustice.

Everyone in our grassroots movement who stayed the course made incredible
personal accomplishments by taking a strong stand for human
dignity.
.We dreamed the impossible dream and pursued it in a courageous and honorable
way. Every one of them is a winner. It is so, and so it is.